BBC to Cut 415 Jobs from News Division

LONDON – U.K. broadcaster the BBC is to cut £48 million ($82.1 million) a year from the budget of its news operations, BBC News Group, by 2016/17, which will result in the loss of 415 jobs.

The BBC said Thursday that some 195 new roles will be created as the news division is restructured, resulting in a net reduction of around 220 posts. BBC News Group employs around 8,400 people, including around 5,000 journalists.

The move follows the broadcaster’s deal with the government over the license fee, which required it to take on new obligations while freezing the license fee, effectively reducing the budget by 26%.

The newsroom will be restructured to create a new 24/7 digital news operation, providing live digital news on all devices. Network news operation will be integrated with the BBC World Service, which until now has been a separate operation with its own network of international bureaux, and regional newsrooms.

The BBC will invest an additional £8 million ($13.7 million) to strengthen its original journalism through creating additional specialist editors and correspondent roles, and appointing local political reporters and city correspondents.

It intends to invest £4 million ($6.84 million) in social and mobile news, data journalism and online analysis.

In the BBC World Service, it will invest £13 million ($22.2 million) in digital journalism and the development of further language TV services over the next three years.